Compare towns
Colrain vs Halifax vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colrain has the most expensive homes ($284k median).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Walden has the shortest commute (26 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Colrain | Halifax | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627Highest |
847Lowest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Walden and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21k 20% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$900±$136 36% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$3,944Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Halifax School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.